Electric connector, cable, and connection assembly

Abstract

To provide an electrical connector, a cable, and a connection assembly, capable of improving communication performance.SOLUTION: An electrical connector includes: a cable having a plurality of conductors including at least one signal line and at least one ground line, and a covering part covering the plurality of conductors so that end surfaces of the plurality of conductors are exposed; and a terminal disposed opposite to the end surfaces of the conductors, and electrically connected to the conductors. The end surface of the conductors is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to an extending direction of the conductors, and the terminal includes: a base end part connected to the end surface of the conductors; and a tip end part located opposite to the base end part. At least a portion of the terminal including the base end part, includes an inclined part extending along an inclined direction along the end surface, and a direction forming an obtuse angle with respect to the conductors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors, cables, and connection assemblies.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose technologies related to electrical connectors. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector mounted on a substrate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As an electrical connector mounted on a substrate, it is conceivable to have a plurality of terminals arranged in a multi-pole manner inside a housing. In such an electrical connector, a plurality of conductors inserted into the housing are electrically connected to a plurality of conductive portions on the substrate via the multi-pole arranged plurality of terminals. In this case, signal transmission between the electrical connector and the substrate is performed via a transmission path passing through the conductor, the terminal, and the conductive portion. In such a transmission path, depending on the proximity of the paths before and after sandwiching the change point of the path, impedance mismatch may occur. In addition, mutual inductance caused by the current flowing through the other path may significantly occur in one path. As a result, the communication performance may deteriorate.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an electrical connector, a cable, and a connection assembly capable of improving communication performance.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] An electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of conductors including at least one signal line and at least one ground line, and a cable having a covering portion that covers the plurality of conductors so that end faces of the plurality of conductors are exposed, and a terminal disposed to face the end face of the conductor and electrically connected to the conductor. The end face of the conductor is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductor. The terminal includes a base end portion connected to the end face of the conductor and a tip end portion located on the side opposite to the base end portion. At least a part including the base end portion of the terminal includes an inclined portion extending along an inclined direction along the end face and forming an obtuse angle with respect to the conductor.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, communication performance can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, the contents of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. [1] An electrical connector according to an embodiment includes a cable having a plurality of conductors including at least one signal line and at least one ground line, and a covering portion that covers the plurality of conductors so that end faces of the plurality of conductors are exposed, and a terminal disposed to face the end face of the conductor and electrically connected to the conductor. The end face of the conductor is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductor. The terminal includes a base end portion connected to the end face of the conductor and a tip end portion located on the side opposite to the base end portion. At least a part including the base end portion of the terminal includes an inclined portion extending along an inclined direction along the end face and in a direction forming an obtuse angle with respect to the conductor.

[0010] The above electrical connector includes a terminal electrically connected to the conductor, and the terminal includes a base end portion connected to the end face of the conductor. The end face of the conductor is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductor. At least a part including the base end portion of the terminal includes an inclined portion extending along an inclined direction along the end face and in a direction forming an obtuse angle with respect to the conductor. In this case, since the terminal can be connected to the conductor while being inclined at a gentle angle with respect to the conductor, for example, compared with a configuration in which the terminal is connected to the conductor perpendicularly, a risk that mutually adjacent paths are formed, such as a path that bends at a right angle in a transmission path passing through the conductor and the terminal, can be reduced. By preventing mutually adjacent paths from being formed in the transmission path in this way, it is possible to avoid a significant mutual inductance caused by a current flowing through the other path in one path. As a result, the loss of the signal propagating through the transmission path can be reduced, and thus the communication performance of the signal can be improved.

[0011] [2] In the electrical connector of [1] above, it further includes a conductor member disposed inside or on the surface of the covering portion and connected to the ground. The terminal includes a signal terminal connected to the end face of the signal line and a ground terminal connected to the end face of the ground line. The ground terminal is connected to the conductor member, and the signal terminal may be separated from the conductor member without being connected to the conductor member. In this case, by connecting and integrating the ground terminal to the conductor member, the ground can be stabilized. Thereby, the influence of crosstalk can be reduced, and the communication performance of the signal propagating through the signal terminal or the like can be improved.

[0012] [3] In the electrical connector according to [2] above, the covering portion includes a shield layer surrounding the conductor. The conductor member is disposed on the surface of the shield layer, and the shield layer may be disposed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the end face of the conductor and facing the side opposite to the terminal in the extending direction. In this case, contact between the signal terminal and the shield layer can be avoided, so that a decrease in communication performance due to conduction between the signal terminal and the shield layer can be avoided.

[0013] [4] In the electrical connector according to any one of [1] to [3] above, the conductor may include a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of ground lines arranged in parallel with each other. In this case, since the plurality of signal lines can be arranged at high density, it becomes possible to simultaneously connect more signal lines to the connection target.

[0014] [5] In the electrical connector according to [4] above, the plurality of signal lines include a first signal line and a second signal line adjacent to each other, and the plurality of ground lines may include a first ground line and a second ground line disposed at positions sandwiching the first signal line and the second signal line. The first signal line and the second signal line adjacent to each other can form a differential signal line. In this case, the currents flowing through the first signal line and the second signal line are in opposite phases. For example, a part of the signal propagated from the first signal line to the first ground line and then into the conductor member is canceled out by a part of the signal propagated from the second signal line to the second ground line and then into the conductor member. As a result, the influence of crosstalk can be more effectively reduced, so that the communication performance of the signal can be further improved.

[0015] [6] In the electrical connector according to any one of [1] to [5] above, the end face of the covering portion where the end face of the conductor is exposed is inclined with respect to the vertical plane so as to follow the end face of the conductor, and may be arranged on the same plane as the end face of the conductor. In this case, since the area of the connection surface between the terminal and the cable can be increased, the electrical connection between the terminal and the conductor can be stabilized. Further, as in the above configuration, by preventing the end face of the conductor from protruding from the end face of the covering portion, it is possible to avoid the generation of stubs (signal branches) due to the conductor intersecting the terminal, and suppress the deterioration of communication performance caused by the stubs.

[0016] [7] In the electrical connector according to any one of [1] to [6] above, the terminal further includes an intersection portion connected to the inclined portion and extending in a direction intersecting the inclined portion, and the intersection portion may be inclined so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the inclined portion. In this case, it is possible to avoid the formation of a path that bends at a right angle in the terminal itself. Thereby, since the risk of forming paths that are close to each other in the transmission path passing through the conductor and the terminal can be reduced, the signal loss due to mutual inductance can be reduced.

[0017] [8] In the electrical connector according to any one of [1] to [7] above, the tip of the terminal may be configured to be elastically deformable. In this case, when the electrical connector is mounted on the substrate, the connection of the terminal to the conductive portion of the substrate can be stabilized.

[0018] [9] The electrical connector according to any one of [1] to [8] above may further include a housing that houses the end of the cable and a plurality of terminals, and a holding member that is housed in the housing and holds the plurality of terminals together in a state of being fixed to the housing. In this configuration, when mounting the electrical connector on a substrate, the tip of each terminal can be connected to the conductive portion of the substrate with the holding member that holds the plurality of terminals as a fulcrum. In this case, compared with the case where the tip of each terminal is connected to the conductive portion of the substrate with the end face of the conductor to which the base end portion of each terminal is connected as a fulcrum, the distance from the fulcrum of the deformation of the terminal to the conductive portion can be shortened. By lowering the fulcrum of the deformation of the terminal in this way, the position of the tip of the terminal connected to the conductive portion can be stabilized, so that the contact pressure of the terminal against the conductive portion can be appropriately ensured. Further, since the holding member holds the plurality of terminals together, the contact pressure of each terminal can be made uniform.

[0019]

[10] In the electrical connector according to [9] above, each of the plurality of terminals includes a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion that are inclined portions, and an intermediate portion that is disposed between the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion and connects the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion, and the holding member holds the intermediate portions of the plurality of terminals together. In this case, since the plurality of terminals can be stably held by the holding member, the contact pressure of each terminal can be more reliably ensured.

[0020]

[11] The electrical connector according to any one of [1] to

[10] above includes a first cable and a second cable that are cables, and the tip portions of the plurality of terminals connected to the first cable may be arranged at positions shifted in the extending direction with respect to the tip portions of the plurality of terminals connected to the second cable. In this case, the plurality of terminals of each of the first cable and the second cable can be arranged at a higher density.

[0021]

[12] The cable according to one embodiment includes a plurality of conductors including at least one signal line and at least one ground line, and a coating portion that covers the plurality of conductors so that the end faces of the plurality of conductors are exposed. The end faces of the plurality of conductors are inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductors. According to this cable, since the terminal can be connected in a state of being inclined at a gentle angle with respect to the conductor, the same operational effects as described above can be achieved.

[0022]

[13] In the cable according to

[12] above, the conductors may include a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of ground lines arranged in parallel with each other. In this case, since the plurality of signal lines can be arranged at a high density, it becomes possible to simultaneously connect more signal lines to connection targets.

[0023]

[14] The connection assembly according to one embodiment includes the electrical connector according to any one of [1] to

[11] above, and a conductive portion electrically connected to the tip of the terminal, and a substrate to which the electrical connector is attached. Since this connection assembly includes the above-described electrical connector, the same operational effects as described above can be achieved.

[0024] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the electrical connector, cable, and connection assembly according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be used for the same elements or elements having the same function, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connection assembly 100 according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the connection assembly 100. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connection assembly 100. In each figure, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is shown for convenience of explanation. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction intersect (for example, are orthogonal) to each other.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connection assembly 100 includes, for example, an electrical connector 1 and a substrate 2 on which the electrical connector 1 is mounted. The substrate 2 is a plate-like member with the Z direction as the thickness direction. The substrate 2 includes a main surface 2a on which the electrical connector 1 is disposed. The main surface 2a extends, for example, along the X direction and the Y direction and faces the electrical connector 1 in the Z direction. The substrate 2 includes a plurality of electrode pads 3, 3A (a plurality of conductive portions) on the main surface 2a (see FIG. 3). The plurality of electrode pads 3 are arranged in a row along the Y direction. The plurality of electrode pads 3A are arranged in a row along the Y direction at positions separated from the plurality of electrode pads 3 in the X direction respectively.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electrical connector 1 includes, for example, cables 10, 10A, ground bars 20, 20A (conductor members), a plurality of terminals 30, 30A, a holding member 40, and a housing 50. In the present embodiment, two (a plurality of) cables 10, 10A are provided, but one or more cables may be provided. The cable 10 (first cable) and the cable 10A (second cable) are arranged so as to overlap in the Z direction on the main surface 2a of the substrate 2. The cable 10A is disposed at a position closer to the main surface 2a than the cable 10 in the Z direction. The end portion 10a of the cable 10 is disposed at a position protruding in the X direction from the end portion 10a of the cable 10A. The ground bar 20 and the plurality of terminals 30 are provided for one cable 10, and the ground bar 20A and the plurality of terminals 30A are provided for another cable 10A.

[0028] The plurality of terminals 30 provided on the cable 10 are arranged at positions facing the end portion 10a of the cable 10 in the X direction and are arranged in a line along the Y direction. The plurality of terminals 30 extend from a position facing the end portion 10a of the cable 10 toward the plurality of electrode pads 3 (see FIG. 3) of the substrate 2. The plurality of terminals 30A provided on the cable 10A are arranged at positions facing the end portion 10a of the cable 10A in the X direction and are arranged in parallel along the Y direction at positions separated from the plurality of terminals 30 in the X direction respectively. The plurality of terminals 30A extend from a position facing the end portion 10a of the cable 10A toward the plurality of electrode pads 3A (see FIG. 3) of the substrate 2.

[0029] The cables 10 and 10A have, for example, similar configurations to each other, and the ground bar 20 and the plurality of terminals 30 provided on the cable 10 also have similar configurations to the ground bar 20A and the plurality of terminals 30A provided on the cable 10A respectively. Note that the plurality of terminals 30 have a similar configuration to the plurality of terminals 30A except that the overall lengths are different from those of the plurality of terminals 30A. Hereinafter, to avoid redundant description, the description will be centered on the configuration of the cable 10.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connector 1. In FIG. 4, it is shown as a cross section when the cable 10 is cut along the YZ plane. As shown in FIG. 4, the cable 10 includes a plurality of electric wires 11 (a plurality of conductors) and a covering portion 12 that covers the plurality of electric wires 11. Each of the plurality of electric wires 11 is a member for transmitting electric power or an electric signal and is formed of a metal such as copper, for example. The plurality of electric wires 11 each extend along the X direction and are arranged in parallel along the Y direction. The plurality of electric wires 11 have, for example, a circular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the X direction, which is the extending direction of the electric wires 11. The covering portion 12 is a member that covers the plurality of electric wires 11 such that the end faces 11a (see FIG. 3) of the plurality of electric wires 11 are exposed. The material of the covering portion 12 is, for example, a resin such as polyester. The cable 10 is formed by integrating the covering portion 12 with the plurality of electric wires 11 arranged in the Y direction. The cable 10 is, for example, a flexible flat cable (FFC).

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the covering portion 12 includes, for example, an insulating layer 13 that surrounds a plurality of electric wires 11, and a shield layer 14 that surrounds the insulating layer 13. The material of the insulating layer 13 is, for example, a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The insulating layer 13 may be composed of, for example, a plurality of layers laminated on each other. The material of the shield layer 14 is, for example, a metal such as copper or aluminum. The shield layer 14 is electrically connected to the ground and has a function of blocking noise that enters the plurality of electric wires 11 from the outside of the cable 10. The shield layer 14 is adhered to the insulating layer 13 by, for example, an adhesive. The surface of the shield layer 14 constitutes, for example, the outermost surface of the covering portion 12. The covering portion 12 may further include another protective layer outside the shield layer.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the covering portion 12 includes an upper surface 12a and a lower surface 12b as the outermost surfaces. Each of the upper surface 12a and the lower surface 12b extends along the X direction and the Y direction, for example, and is arranged side by side along the Z direction. The lower surface 12b is arranged to face the main surface 2a of the substrate 2, and the upper surface 12a is arranged to face the side opposite to the main surface 2a of the substrate 2.

[0033] The ground bar 20 is a plate-like conductive member. The material of the ground bar 20 is, for example, a metal such as copper or aluminum. The ground bar 20 extends along the X direction and the Y direction, for example, and is arranged so as to overlap the surface of the shield layer 14 (that is, the upper surface 12a of the covering portion 12) in the Z direction. The ground bar 20 is in contact with the surface of the shield layer 14 and is electrically connected to the shield layer 14. Therefore, the ground bar 20 is electrically connected to the ground via the shield layer 14. The shape of the ground bar 20 as viewed along the Z direction is, for example, a rectangular shape with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction. The ground bar 20 is arranged, for example, on the upper surface 12a included in the end portion 10a of the cable 10.

[0034] Each of the plurality of terminals 30 is formed of a metal such as copper, for example, and is used as a signal line or a ground line. The plurality of terminals 30 electrically connect the plurality of electric wires 11 and the plurality of electrode pads 3, respectively. Each terminal 30 includes a base end portion 30a connected to the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 and a tip end portion 30b connected to the electrode pad 3. In this specification, "connection" includes both the case where two elements are directly connected to each other and the case where two elements are indirectly connected via another member.

[0035] The base end portion 30a of the terminal 30 faces the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 in the X direction and is connected to the end face 11a via, for example, solder. The connection between the base end portion 30a and the end face 11a is not limited to solder connection, and other connections such as crimping or welding (for example, laser welding or thermal welding, etc.) may be used. Therefore, the base end portion 30a may be in direct contact with the end face 11a of the electric wire 11, or may be in indirect contact with the end face 11a via another member. Although details will be described later, the plurality of ground terminals 30G used as ground lines among the plurality of terminals 30 are connected to a ground bar 20 disposed on the upper surface 12a of the covering portion 12 and are integrated with the ground bar 20 (see FIG. 5). On the other hand, the plurality of signal terminals 30S used as signal lines among the plurality of terminals 30 are not connected to the ground bar 20. That is, the signal terminal 30S is disconnected from the ground bar 20.

[0036] The tip end portion 30b of the terminal 30 faces the electrode pad 3 in the Z direction and is connected to the electrode pad 3 via, for example, solder. The connection between the tip end portion 30b and the electrode pad 3 is not limited to solder connection, and other connections such as crimping or welding (for example, laser welding or thermal welding, etc.) may be used. Therefore, the tip end portion 30b may be in direct contact with the electrode pad 3, or may be in indirect contact with the electrode pad 3 via another member.

[0037] The housing 50 is a member that houses the end portion 10a of the cable 10, the ground bar 20, the plurality of terminals 30, and the holding member 40. The housing 50 includes, for example, a metal outer shell 51. The outer shell 51 includes a side surface 52 in which an opening 52a and an opening 52b are formed, and a bottom surface 53 in which an opening 53a is formed.

[0038] The side surface 52 of the outer shell 51 is a plane extending in a direction intersecting the X direction, and is arranged, for example, perpendicular to the main surface 2a of the substrate 2. The openings 52a and 52b formed in the side surface 52 have, for example, a rectangular shape with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction, and are formed so as to be arranged along the Z direction. The end portion 10a of the cable 10 is inserted into the opening 52a in the X direction. The end portion 10a of the cable 10A is inserted into the opening 52b in the X direction. The bottom surface 53 of the outer shell 51 is a plane extending along the X direction and the Y direction along the main surface 2a of the substrate 2, and faces the main surface 2a in the Z direction. The bottom surface 53 is fixed directly or indirectly to the main surface 2a. The shape of the opening 53a formed in the bottom surface 53 has, for example, a rectangular shape with the Y direction as the longitudinal direction. The tip portions 30b of the plurality of terminals 30, 30A are arranged in the opening 53a.

[0039] The outer shell 51 includes therein an insertion hole 54 extending from the opening 52a, a 54A extending from the opening 52b, and a housing hole 55 communicating with the insertion holes 54 and 54A and extending to the opening 53a on the bottom surface 53. The insertion holes 54 and 54A are, for example, linearly extended along the X direction from the side surface 52 and then inclined so as to bend from the X direction to the substrate 2 side in the Z direction. The housing hole 55 extends along the direction in which the insertion holes 54 and 54A are inclined. The space between the insertion hole 54 and the insertion hole 54A in the Z direction is partitioned by a partition wall 56. The partition wall 56 is integrated with an outer wall 57 that constitutes the outer contour of the outer shell 51. The partition wall 56 and the outer wall 57 constitute the outer shell 51. The partition wall 56 extends from the side surface 52 inside the outer wall 57, and the tip 56a of the partition wall 56 is disposed at a position that does not reach the bottom surface 53. The tip 56a of the partition wall 56 is disposed inside the outer wall 57 at a position facing the main surface 2a of the substrate 2 in the Z direction.

[0040] The interiors of the insertion holes 54 and 54A are filled with a resin material 60. The resin material 60 is formed of a resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), for example. The resin material 60 is formed by flowing the resin into the insertion holes 54 and 54A by, for example, potting. The resin material 60 is fixed to the inner surfaces of the insertion holes 54 and 54A and is configured as a part of the housing 50.

[0041] The holding member 40 is disposed in the accommodation hole 55. The holding member 40 is, for example, a plate-shaped resin member with the Z direction as the thickness direction. The holding member 40 is formed of, for example, a resin material (insulating material) having electrical insulation properties. The material of the holding member 40 may be, for example, a resin harder than the resin material 60. The holding member 40 is disposed at the boundary portion between the insertion holes 54, 54A and the accommodation hole 55 inside the outer shell 51, and is disposed so as to block the insertion holes 54, 54A from the accommodation hole 55. The holding member 40 includes, for example, an upper surface 40a that closes the insertion holes 54, 54A and a lower surface 40b facing the side opposite to the upper surface 40a. The upper surface 40a is fixed to the resin material 60 injected into the insertion holes 54, 54A and the tip 56a of the partition wall 56. The lower surface 40b faces the main surface 2a of the substrate 2 in the Z direction with a predetermined distance therebetween.

[0042] A plurality of terminals 30, 30A are inserted through the holding member 40. The plurality of terminals 30, 30A are collectively held by the holding member 40. The tip portions 30b of the respective terminals 30, 30A project from the lower surface 40b of the holding member 40 toward the main surface 2a and are connected to the respective electrode pads 3, 3A of the substrate 2. The holding member 40 is formed by, for example, insert molding or the like. As a result, the holding member 40 is fixed to the housing 50 including the resin material 60. The forming method of the holding member 40 is not limited to the above-described example, and other methods may be used. For example, after attaching the plurality of terminals 30, 30A to a holding member pre-molded separately from the housing 50, the holding member 40 may be fixed to the housing 50 with, for example, an adhesive or the like.

[0043] The tip portions 30b of the respective terminals 30, 30A are configured to be elastically deformable in the Z direction and are, for example, J-shaped. The tip portion 30b is in contact with the electrode pad 3 in an elastically deformed state. For example, the tip portion 30b protrudes from the bottom surface 53 of the housing 50 in a state before contacting the electrode pad 3 (refer to the shape shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3).

[0044] Here, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the configuration of the end portion of the electrical connector 1 will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cables 10, 10A, the plurality of terminals 30, 30A, and the holding member 40 provided at the end portion of the electrical connector 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is cut along the XZ plane passing through the ground wire 11G. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cable 10 and the plurality of terminals 30 in FIG. 5 are disassembled.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the plurality of electric wires 11 include, for example, a plurality of signal lines 11S and a plurality of ground lines 11G. The arrangement of each signal line 11S and each ground line 11G is appropriately determined by the signal to be transmitted. In the present embodiment, two signal lines 11S, 11S (first signal line, second signal line) are arranged in parallel, and two ground lines 11G, 11G (first ground line, second ground line) are respectively arranged at positions sandwiching the two signal lines 11S, 11S. As a result, one signal line 11S is adjacent to one ground line 11G, and the other signal line 11S is adjacent to the other ground line 11G. The two adjacent signal lines 11S, 11S carry currents in opposite phases to each other, and the signal is transmitted by differential transmission in which the potential difference between the two signal lines 11S, 11S is used to transmit the signal. The arrangement of each signal line 11S and each ground line 11G is not limited to the above-described example, and other arrangements may be used.

[0046] The plurality of terminals 30 includes, for example, a plurality of signal terminals 30S and a plurality of ground terminals 30G. The plurality of signal terminals 30S are terminals used as signal lines. The plurality of ground terminals 30G are terminals used as ground lines. The plurality of ground terminals 30G are arranged side by side along the Y direction so as to correspond to the plurality of ground lines 11G respectively, and are electrically connected to the plurality of ground lines 11G respectively. The base ends 30a of the plurality of ground terminals 30G are arranged so as to face the end faces 11a of the plurality of ground lines 11G respectively, and are connected to the end faces 11a of the plurality of ground lines 11G via solder respectively. The base ends 30a of the plurality of ground lines 11G are connected to a ground bar 20 arranged on the upper surface 12a of the covering portion 12, and are integrated with the ground bar 20. Therefore, the plurality of ground lines 11G are electrically connected to the ground via the ground bar 20.

[0047] The plurality of signal terminals 30S are arranged side by side along the Y direction so as to correspond to the end faces 11a of the plurality of signal lines 11S respectively, and are electrically connected to the plurality of signal lines 11S respectively. The base ends 30a of the plurality of signal terminals 30S are arranged so as to face the end faces 11a of the plurality of signal lines 11S respectively, and are connected to the end faces 11a of the plurality of signal lines 11S via solder respectively. The base ends 30a of the plurality of signal lines 11S are not connected to the ground bar 20 and are separated from the ground bar 20. Therefore, the plurality of signal lines 11S are electrically independent of the plurality of ground terminals 30G and the ground bar 20.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, the end face 11a of each wire 11 is inclined with respect to a vertical plane VS perpendicular to the X direction in which the wire 11 extends. The vertical plane VS may be, for example, a virtual plane parallel to the YZ plane and may be perpendicular to the central axis 11C of the wire 11. The end face 11a is inclined with respect to both the Z direction and the X direction so as to move away from the cable 10 in the X direction as it approaches the lower surface 12b in the Z direction in a cross section (the cross section in FIG. 6) passing through the central axis 11C of the wire 11. The inclination angle θ of the end face 11a with respect to the vertical plane VS may be, for example, 10 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less.

[0049] The end face 12c of the covering portion 12 is inclined with respect to the vertical plane VS so as to follow the end face 11a and is arranged on the same plane as the end face 11a. That is, the end face 12c is flush with the end face 11a. The end face 12c may be, for example, the end face in the X direction of the insulating layer 13 in the covering portion 12. The end face in the X direction of the insulating layer 13 protrudes in the X direction from the end face of the shield layer 14 and constitutes the end face 12c of the covering portion 12. The shield layer 14 in the covering portion 12 is arranged at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 and the end face 12c of the covering portion 12 toward the side opposite to the terminal 30 in the X direction. Assuming that the direction from the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 toward the terminal 30 in the X direction is the front and the opposite side is the rear, it can be said that the shield layer 14 is arranged at a position shifted rearward from the end faces 11a and 12c. That is, the end face 14a in the X direction of the shield layer 14 is shifted rearward by a predetermined distance from the end faces 11a and 12c. As a result, a gap S is formed between the end face 14a of the shield layer 14 and the terminal 30. In this way, the shield layer 14 is separated from the terminal 30 without contact. Therefore, the shield layer 14 is not connected to the signal terminal 30S and maintains a non-conductive state with the signal terminal 30S.

[0050] Each of the plurality of terminals 30 includes, for example, a first inclined portion P1, a second inclined portion P2, and an intermediate portion P3 (intersection portion). The first inclined portion P1 is included in at least a part of the terminal 30 including the base end portion 30a. In the present embodiment, the first inclined portion P1 is a part of the terminal 30 including the base end portion 30a. The first inclined portion P1 may be the entire terminal 30 including the base end portion 30a. The first inclined portion P1 is arranged so as to face the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 and is connected to the end face 11a via solder. The first inclined portion P1 includes at least a connection point P11 connected to the end face 11a of the electric wire 11. The connection point P11 may be, for example, the intersection of the terminal 30 and the central axis 11C of the electric wire 11 or its extension line. The first inclined portion P1 extends along the inclination direction D11 of the end face 11a on the end face 11a. The inclination direction D11 is a direction along the end face 11a, that is, a direction inclined from the vertical plane VS.

[0051] The first inclined portion P1 extends between the connection point P11 and the connection point P12 along a direction D12 that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the electric wire 11 among the inclined directions D11. The connection point P12 is the point where the terminal 30 is connected to the electrode pad 3, and may be, for example, the intersection of the terminal 30 and the normal line of the main surface 2a passing through the center of the electrode pad 3. That the first inclined portion P1 forms an obtuse angle with respect to the electric wire 11 means that the angle between the central axis C1 of the first inclined portion P1 and the central axis 11C of the electric wire 11 is in the range greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. The direction D12 can also be described as a direction inclined with respect to both the Z direction and the X direction so as to be away from the cable 10 along the X direction from the connection point P11 to the connection point P12 in a cross-section passing through the central axis 11C of the electric wire 11 (the cross-section in FIG. 6). The first inclined portion P1 may also extend in the direction opposite to the direction D12 among the inclined directions D11 on the end surface 11a.

[0052] The second inclined portion P2 is disposed at a position farther from the connection point P11 than the first inclined portion P1 between the connection point P11 and the connection point P12. That is, the second inclined portion P2 is located between the first inclined portion P1 and the connection point P12. The second inclined portion P2 extends, for example, along the direction D12 along which the first inclined portion P1 extends. That is, the second inclined portion P2 extends parallel to the first inclined portion P1. The second inclined portion P2 may extend along a direction different from the direction D12 along which the first inclined portion P1 extends.

[0053] The intermediate portion P3 is disposed between the first inclined portion P1 and the second inclined portion P2 and connects the first inclined portion P1 and the second inclined portion P2. The intermediate portion P3 extends in a direction intersecting the first inclined portion P1 and the second inclined portion P2. The intermediate portion P3 is inclined, for example, so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the first inclined portion P1 and the second inclined portion P2. That is, the angle formed by the central axis C3 of the intermediate portion P3 and the central axis C1 of the first inclined portion P1 is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, and the angle formed by the central axis C3 of the intermediate portion P3 and the central axis C2 of the second inclined portion P2 is greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. The intermediate portion P3 extends, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the central axis 11C of the electric wire 11, that is, along the vertical plane VS. The intermediate portion P3 extends along the Z direction from the first inclined portion P1 to the second inclined portion P2 in a cross section (the cross section of FIG. 6) passing through the central axis 11C of the electric wire 11. The length of the intermediate portion P3 along the Z direction is, for example, the same as the thickness of the holding member 40 along the Z direction or longer than the thickness of the holding member 40 along the Z direction.

[0054] The holding member 40 is disposed between the connection point P11 and the connection point P12 and collectively holds the intermediate portions P3 of the plurality of terminals 30, 30A. The holding member 40 includes, for example, a plurality of holding holes 41 and a plurality of holding holes 41A. The plurality of holding holes 41 are arranged in a row along the Y direction corresponding to the plurality of terminals 30 respectively. The intermediate portions P3 of the plurality of terminals 30 are respectively inserted into the plurality of holding holes 41. The plurality of holding holes 41A are arranged in a row along the Y direction corresponding to the plurality of terminals 30A respectively. The intermediate portions P3 of the plurality of terminals 30A are respectively inserted into the plurality of holding holes 41A. The plurality of holding holes 41, 41A penetrate from the upper surface 40a to the lower surface 40b along the Z direction.

[0055] The holding member 40 holds together the intermediate portions P3 of the plurality of terminals 30, 30A in a state fixed to the housing 50. Therefore, the tip portions 30b of the respective terminals 30, 30A are deformed with the lower surface 40b of the holding member 40 as the fulcrum P13. And the holding member 40 is arranged, for example, so as to be parallel to the main surface 2a of the substrate 2, and the distance d between the lower surface 40b of the holding member 40 and the main surface 2a is maintained constant. In this case, the length from the fulcrum P13 to the connection point P12 in each of the terminals 30, 30A is maintained constant, and the spring displacement amounts of the tip portions 30b of the respective terminals 30, 30A with respect to the electrode pads 3, 3A are made uniform.

[0056] The effects achieved by the electrical connector 1, the cable 10, and the connection assembly according to the present embodiment described above will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the effects of the present embodiment. FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the cable 10 and the terminal 30 that constitute the electrical connector 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8(b) is a cross-sectional view showing the cable 110 and the terminal 130 that constitute the electrical connector according to the reference example.

[0057] In the example shown in FIG. 8(b), the terminal 130 is arranged perpendicular to the electric wire 111 of the cable 110 and is connected to the electric wire 111 via the relay member 150. The relay member 150 is a member for relaying the electrical connection between the terminal 130 and the electric wire 111, and is, for example, a paddle card. The relay member 150 is connected to the upper surface of the electric wire 111 protruding from the covering portion 112. The end portion 150a of the relay member 150 protrudes forward of the end portion 111a of the electric wire 111. The base end portion 130a of the terminal 130 is fixed to the end portion 150a of the relay member 150 and extends in the X direction along the relay member 150. The intermediate portion 130c of the terminal 130 is bent perpendicular to the base end portion 130a and extends along the Z direction toward the tip portion 130b. The tip portion 130b of the terminal 130 is connected to the electrode pad 103 of the substrate 102.

[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 8(b), signal transmission between the cable 110 and the substrate 102 is performed via the transmission path L110 passing through the electric wire 111, the relay member 150, the terminal 130, and the electrode pad 103. In such a transmission path, for example, there is a path that bends at a right angle to each other, such as the connection portion between the base end portion 130a and the intermediate portion 130c of the terminal 130. In this case, mutual inductance caused by the current flowing through the path passing through the intermediate portion 130c may significantly occur in the path passing through the base end portion 130a. As a result, the impedance mismatch between these paths may increase, and the communication performance may deteriorate.

[0059] On the other hand, in the electrical connector 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 is inclined from the vertical plane VS, and the first inclined portion P1 of the terminal 30 is inclined along the end face 11a. In this case, since the terminal 30 can be connected to the electric wire 11 while being inclined at a gentle angle with respect to the electric wire 11, compared with the configuration in which the terminal 30 is connected to the electric wire 11 perpendicularly (see FIG. 8(b)), in the transmission path L10 passing through the electric wire 11, the terminal 30, and the electrode pad 3, risks such as the formation of paths that bend at right angles to each other, that is, paths that are close to each other, can be reduced. In this way, by preventing paths that are close to each other from being formed in the transmission path L10, it is possible to avoid a significant mutual inductance caused by the current flowing through the other path (for example, the path passing through the first inclined portion P1 of the terminal 30) in one path (for example, the path passing through the electric wire 11). As a result, since the loss of the signal propagating through the transmission path L10 can be reduced, it is possible to improve the communication performance of the signal. Further, according to the present embodiment, by connecting the first inclined portion P1 of the terminal 30 to the inclined end face 11a of the electric wire 11, while increasing the area of the connection surface between the first inclined portion P1 and the end face 11a, a configuration for connecting the terminal 30 to the electric wire 11 can be simply realized. For example, since the terminal 30 can be directly connected to the electric wire 11 without using the relay member 150 as shown in FIG. 8(b), the number of components can be reduced and the configuration of the electrical connector 1 can be simplified. Further, if the configuration in which the terminal 30 is connected to the electric wire 11 can be simply realized in this way, it is possible to avoid the connection portion between the terminal 30 and the electric wire 11 taking up more space than necessary, so that each terminal 30 can be arranged at a higher density in a limited space.

[0060] As in this embodiment, the plurality of ground terminals 30G are connected to the ground bar 20 disposed on the upper surface 12a of the covering portion 12, and the plurality of signal terminals 30S may be spaced apart from the ground bar 20. In this case, by connecting and integrating the plurality of ground terminals 30G to the ground bar 20, the ground can be stabilized. Thereby, the influence of crosstalk can be reduced and the communication performance of the signal propagating through the signal terminal 30S or the like can be improved. Further, by integrating the plurality of ground terminals 30G to the ground bar 20 in this manner, the plurality of ground lines G11 can be collectively connected to the ground via the plurality of ground terminals 30G and the ground bar 20. In this case, the manufacturing process of the electrical connector 1 can be simplified as compared with the case where the plurality of ground lines 11G are connected to the ground one by one.

[0061] As in this embodiment, the shield layer 14 may be disposed so as to be displaced by a predetermined distance from the end surface 11a of the electric wire 11 toward the side opposite to the terminal 30 in the X direction. In this case, contact between the signal terminal 30S and the shield layer 14 can be avoided, so that a decrease in communication performance due to conduction between the signal terminal 30S and the shield layer 14 can be avoided.

[0062] As in this embodiment, the plurality of signal lines 11S may include signal lines 11S, 11S adjacent to each other, and the plurality of ground lines 11G may include ground lines 11G, 11G disposed at positions sandwiching the signal lines 11S, 11S. The signal lines 11S, 11S adjacent to each other can form differential signal lines. In this case, the currents flowing through the signal lines 11S, 11S are in opposite phases. For example, a part of the signal propagated from one signal line 11S to one ground line 11G and then looped into the ground bar 20 is canceled by a part of the signal propagated from the other signal line 11S to the other ground line 11G and then looped into the ground bar 20. Thereby, the influence of crosstalk can be more effectively reduced, so that the communication performance of the signal can be further improved.

[0063] As in this embodiment, the end face 12c of the covering portion 12 is inclined with respect to the vertical plane VS so as to follow the end face 11a of the electric wire 11, and may be arranged on the same plane as the end face 11a of the electric wire 11. In this case, since the area of the connection surface between the terminal 30 and the cable 10 can be increased, the electrical connection between the terminal 30 and the electric wire 11 can be stabilized. Further, as in the above configuration, by preventing the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 from protruding from the end face 12c of the covering portion 12, it is possible to avoid the generation of a stub (signal branching) due to the electric wire 11 crossing the terminal 30, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in communication performance caused by the stub.

[0064] As in this embodiment, the terminal 30 further includes an intermediate portion P3 that is connected to the first inclined portion P1 and extends in a direction intersecting the first inclined portion P1, and the intermediate portion P3 may be inclined so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the first inclined portion P1. In this case, it is possible to avoid the formation of a path that bends at a right angle in the terminal 30 itself. Thereby, since the risk of forming paths that are close to each other in the transmission path L10 passing through the electric wire 11 and the terminal 30 can be reduced, the loss of signals due to mutual inductance can be reduced.

[0065] As in this embodiment, the tip portion 30b of the terminal 30 may be configured to be elastically deformable. In this case, when the electrical connector 1 is mounted on the substrate 2, the connection of the terminal 30 to the electrode pad 3 of the substrate 2 can be stabilized.

[0066] As in this embodiment, the electrical connector 1 may include a housing 50 that houses the end portion 10a of the cable 10 and a plurality of terminals 30, and a holding member 40 that is housed in the housing 50 and holds the plurality of terminals 30 together in a state of being fixed to the housing 50. In this configuration, when mounting the electrical connector 1 on the substrate 2, the distal end portions 30b of the respective terminals 30 can be connected to the electrode pads 3 of the substrate 2 with the holding member 40 that holds the plurality of terminals 30 as the fulcrum P13. In this case, compared with the case where the distal end portions 30b of the respective terminals 30 are connected to the electrode pads 3 of the substrate 2 with the end face 11a of the electric wire 11 to which the proximal end portions 30a of the respective terminals 30 are connected as the fulcrum, the distance from the fulcrum P13 of the deformation of the terminal 30 to the electrode pad 3 can be shortened. By lowering the fulcrum P13 of the deformation of the terminal 30 in this way, the position of the distal end portion 30b of the terminal 30 connected to the electrode pad 3 can be stabilized, so that an appropriate contact pressure of the terminal 30 against the electrode pad 3 can be ensured. Further, since the holding member 40 holds the plurality of terminals 30 together, the contact pressure of each terminal 30 can be made uniform. Further, when such a holding member 40 holds the plurality of terminals 30, 30A together, the respective terminals 30, 30A having different lengths can be deformed with the same fulcrum P13 as a reference, so that the amount of deformation of each terminal 30, 30A from the fulcrum P13 can be made uniform.

[0067] As in this embodiment, the terminal 30 includes a first inclined portion P1, a second inclined portion P2, and an intermediate portion P3, and the holding member 40 holds the intermediate portions P3 of the plurality of terminals 30 together. In this case, since the plurality of terminals 30 can be stably held by the holding member 40, the contact pressure of each terminal 30 can be more reliably ensured.

[0068] As in this embodiment, the distal end portions 30b of the plurality of terminals 30 connected to the cable 10 may be arranged at positions shifted in the X direction with respect to the distal end portions 30b of the plurality of terminals 30A connected to the cable 10A. In this case, the plurality of terminals 30, 30A can be arranged at a higher density.

[0069] As described above in detail for the embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and is applicable to various embodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, the case where the ground bar 20 is configured as a separate member from the shield layer 14 of the cable 10 has been described. However, the ground bar (conductor member) may be integrated with the shield layer. That is, the ground bar may be disposed inside the covering portion of the cable and configured as a part of the shield layer. The ground bar does not necessarily have to be disposed on the upper surface of the covering portion, and may be disposed on other portions such as the lower surface of the covering portion, for example.

[0070] In the above embodiments, the case where a plurality of electric wires 11 (conductors) of the cable 10 include a plurality of signal lines 11S and a plurality of ground lines 11G has been described. However, the plurality of conductors of the "cable" of the present disclosure may include one signal line and one ground line. The "cable" of the present disclosure does not have to be a flexible flat cable (FFC), and may be other cables such as a coaxial cable.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0071] 1... Electrical connector [[ID=...]] 2... Substrate [[ID=...]] 2a... Main surface [[ID=...]] 3, 3A... Electrode pads (conductive portions) [[ID=...]] 10... Cable (first cable) [[ID=...]] 10A... Cable (second cable) [[ID=...]] 10a... End portion [[ID=...]] 11... Electric wire (conductor) [[ID=...]] 11a... End face [[ID=...]] 11C... Central axis [[ID=...]] 11G... Ground line [[ID=...]] 11S... Signal line [[ID=...]] 12... Covering portion [[ID=...]] 12a... Upper surface [[ID=...]] 12b... Lower surface [[ID=...]] 12c... End face [[ID=...]] 13... Insulation layer [[ID=...]] 14... Shield layer [[ID=...]] 20, 20A... Ground bar [[ID=...]] 30, 30A... Terminals [[ID=...]] 30a... Base end portion [[ID=...]] 30b... Tip end portion 30G… Ground terminal 30S… Signal terminal 40… Holding member 40a… Upper surface 40b… Lower surface 41, 41A… Holding holes 50… Housing 51… Outer shell 52… Side surface 52a, 52b… Openings 53… Bottom surface 53a… Opening 54… Insertion hole 54A… Insertion hole 55… Receiving hole 56… Partition wall 56a… Tip 57… Outer wall 60… Resin material 100… Connection assembly 102… Substrate 103… Electrode pad 110… Cable 111… Electric wire 111a… End portion 112… Coating portion 130… Terminal 130a… Base end portion 130b… Tip end portion 130c… Intermediate portion 150… Relay member 150a… End portion C1, C2, C3… Central axis d… Distance D11… Inclination direction D12… Direction L10, L110… Transmission path P1… First inclined portion P2… Second inclined portion P3… Intermediate portion (intersection portion) P11, P12… Connection points P13… Fulcrum VS… Vertical plane θ… Inclination angle S… Gap

Claims

1. A cable having a plurality of conductors including at least one signal line and at least one ground line, and a covering portion covering the plurality of conductors such that end faces of the plurality of conductors are exposed; A terminal disposed to face the end face of the conductor and electrically connected to the conductor; Comprising; The end face of the conductor is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductor; The terminal includes a base end portion connected to the end face of the conductor and a tip end portion located on the side opposite to the base end portion; At least a part including the base end portion of the terminal includes an inclined portion extending along an inclined direction along the end face and in a direction forming an obtuse angle with respect to the conductor; An electrical connector.

2. Further comprising a conductor member disposed inside or on the surface of the covering portion and connected to ground; The terminal is A signal terminal connected to the end face of the signal line; A ground terminal connected to the end face of the ground line; Including; The ground terminal is connected to the conductor member, and the signal terminal is not connected to the conductor member and is separated from the conductor member; The electrical connector according to claim 1.

3. The covering portion includes a shield layer surrounding the conductor; The conductor member is disposed on the surface of the shield layer; The shield layer is disposed at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the end face of the conductor toward the side opposite to the terminal in the extending direction; The electrical connector according to claim 2.

4. The conductor includes a plurality of the signal lines and a plurality of the ground lines arranged in parallel with each other; The electrical connector according to claim 1.

5. The plurality of signal lines include a first signal line and a second signal line adjacent to each other; The plurality of ground lines include a first ground line and a second ground line disposed at positions sandwiching the first signal line and the second signal line; The electrical connector according to claim 4.

6. The end face of the covering portion where the end face of the conductor is exposed is inclined with respect to the vertical plane along the end face of the conductor and is disposed on the same plane as the end face of the conductor; The electrical connector according to claim 1.

7. The terminal further includes an intersecting portion connected to the inclined portion and extending in a direction intersecting the inclined portion; The intersecting portion is inclined so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the inclined portion; The electrical connector according to claim 1.

8. The tip of the terminal is configured to be elastically deformable. The electrical connector according to claim 1.

9. A housing that houses an end portion of the cable and a plurality of the terminals, A holding member that is housed in the housing and holds the plurality of terminals together in a state of being fixed to the housing, further comprising The electrical connector according to claim 1.

10. Each of the plurality of terminals a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion that are the inclined portions, an intermediate portion disposed between the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion and connecting the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion, including The holding member holds the intermediate portions of the plurality of terminals together. The electrical connector according to claim 9.

11. comprising a first cable and a second cable that are the cables, The tip portions of the plurality of terminals connected to the first cable are disposed at positions shifted in the extending direction with respect to the tip portions of the plurality of terminals connected to the second cable. The electrical connector according to claim 1.

12. a plurality of conductors including at least one signal line and at least one ground line, a covering portion that covers the plurality of conductors so that end faces of the plurality of conductors are exposed, comprising The end faces of the plurality of conductors are inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductors. Cable.

13. The conductor includes a plurality of the signal lines and a plurality of the ground lines arranged in parallel with each other. The cable according to claim 12.

14. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 11, a substrate including a conductive portion electrically connected to the tip of the terminal, to which the electrical connector is attached, comprising Connection assembly.

Images